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H. S. MAXIM.

MECHANISM FOR OPERATING GUN LOCKS BY REGOIL.

o. 297,278; Patented A 2,1884. v

. U ITED STATES HIRAM S. MAXIM, OF BROOKLYN, NI HV YORK.

ATENT; tries;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent-No. 297.2'78, dated April 22, 1884. I

Application tiled June 30, 1583. (X modelll ful Improvements in Fire-Arms; and I do'her(- by declare the following to be a full, clear. and

' exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to fire-arms of the class 'usuall y called repeating rifles, of which the \Vinchester breech-loading rifle may be considered a type.

It consists of a device for utilizing the kick of such rifles for operating the breech-loading mechanism, and is constructed in such a mam nor that when the ride is discharged the rebound stores up sufficient energy in two spiral springs to operate the necessarymechanism for extracting the exploded shell of the cartridge, for cooking the instrument, for placing a new cartridge in position, forcing it into the barrel, and closing the breech.

It is well known that heavy-loaded rifles such as are used for military purposes rebound with great. force and-often do injury to the shoulder of the person firing them. By my device a yielding shoulder-piece diminishes the force of the kick or rebound, and at thesame time stores up sufficient energy to prepare therific for the next succeeding, shot.

In the drawings a rifle of v the \Vinehester type is shown, and the parts not illustrated will-be understood to be the same as in said well-known rifle. The apparatus will, however, operate equally well on any arm of the kind, or upon a revolver.

Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings are views, partly in side elevation and partly in section, of a portion of a gun provided with my-im.-

' provements, these figures, respectively, showing the operative mechanism'in different positions.

Theleft-hand portion of the drawings-is in section, and shows the apparatus in the position to be ready for firing. On discharging the rifie,.the plate 0 being firmly placed against the shoulder, the rebound will compress the two spiral springs J and K. At the same time the'lateh G will be thrown, when the spring L will cause the notch b to engage the catch H. This will hold both the springs in a compressed .state. 1 \Vhcn,however, the force or the discharge has been expended and the lever B is l'ree to more, the force of the spring J will press the bolt 1) forward until the center 0 reaches), and the point (Z reaches. the point c. This movement cocks the inst-rument and throws out the old shell. As soon, however, asthe wheel I has advanced to a proper point, it will have'lifted the latch G from the catch H, when the spring K will move allv the parts hack into the position shown in the drawings. course, fini hes the operation of making the instrument ready for firing again. charging the ride the guardE acts as a connecting-rod between the points 0 and d. At each firing the point O strikes the trigger N at It and liberates the little pinl, whichjs spring which carries th'esear, or arrestcr of the trigger; as ifle, heretofore referred to. s brought back into its firstposition at eaehdi'scharge, and the trigger cannot again be drawn until the little pin 1 is again compressed.

It will be obvious that;a rif le provided with this device will be susceptible of being fired with great accuracy and rapidity.

As repeatin rifles are now made, some movement on tire-part of the operator is necessary to reload.' The movement, although slight, requires timeand destroys the aim, whereas aheavy-loaded ride, from its rebounding force, is anotherfcause operating against accuracy and rapid firing. I \Vith this ins'trument,-however, the operator has nothing to do except to pull the trigger at eachdischarge or to press steadily upon the trigger, when the full contents of the magazine will be rapidly discharged, while the yielding plate 0 relieves the shoulder from the force of the discharge.

' I am aware that a movable spring-supported shoulder-plate has been applied to the stock Upon dis 4 aw i,

of a gun and conncctedwith the hammer in such manner as to cock the same when the said shoulder-plate is forced up to the butt of the stock, and I do not claim. such co1nhina-' end hearing against said plate and the other against the end of bolt D, a spring arranged to force said bolt in opposition to said spring; J, a latch for holding plate 0 compressed to the butt of the stock, and a device operated by the kick or rebound of the gun for releasing said latch, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the hammer-operating lever F, trigger N, and pin P, connected with the trigger stop, of the shoulderplate C, the latch G, connected thereto, the stationary catch H, the bolt 1), carrying a trip for releasing said latch, the spring J, arranged between the bolt and shoulder-niece, spring 1K, arranged to drive the bolt rearwardly. and the combined guard and connecting'rod E, pivoted at its front end to the trigger-operating lever and at its rear end to the bolt, and provided intermcdiately with the projection G, arranged to"strike the rear side of the trigger when the rod is thrown forward and to press inward the trigger stop-pin when it is drawn rearward,the whole arranged, as shown, in connection with the stock of a gun of the kind described.

3, ihe comloinatiomwith the movable shouh tier-plate (3, connected with the hammer-cocking lover of a gun, as described. of a latch arranged to hold said shoulder-plate to the Po sition for cockin g the hammer, and a device operated by the rebound of the gun for unlatchingz said plate, substantially as described. In witness whereof I have hereunto .suh-

scribed my name.

HIRAM S. MAXIM. In presence of-- EDWARD 1P. MAOLEAN,

d. S. J. EATON. 

